Russian President Vladimir Putin has refrained from criticising US President Donald Trump at a news conference in China, saying a decision to shutter Russian diplomatic outposts in the US was poorly handled.
Speaking at a news conference during a summit in China on Tuesday, Putin dismissed as "naive" a question about whether he was disappointed in Trump.
In comments carried by Russian news agencies, Putin said Trump is "not my bride, and I'm not his groom".
Asked how Russia would feel if Trump were impeached, Putin said it would be "absolutely wrong" for Russia to discuss domestic US politics.
Russian officials cheered Trump when he was elected last year, and Putin praised him as someone who wanted to improve ties with Russia. However, further US sanctions on Russia and the US decision to close Russian diplomatic outposts have raised concerns that the two countries remain far apart.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The Trump administration last week ordered the closure of three Russian facilities in the US: The San Francisco consulate and trade missions in New York and Washington. It was the latest in a series of escalating retaliatory measures between the former Cold War foes.
Putin said the US had a right to close consulates but "it was done in such a rude way".
"It is hard to hold a dialogue with people who mix Austria with Australia," he continued, an apparent reference to a decade-old gaffe by George W Bush, who during a 2007 visit to Sydney referred to Austrian troops when he meant Australian troops.
"The American nation, America is truly a great country and a great people if they can tolerate such a big number of people with such a low level of political culture," Putin said.
